More than 100 elephants in northern Thailand have been moved to higher ground to escape rapidly rising flood waters, local media reported, but many other animals were still stuck as their sanctuary struggled to evacuate them on Friday.

Flash floods swept through a popular elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of about 100 elephants and trapping dozens of tourists, amid urgent pleas for help.

Since August, severe flooding in northern Thailand has led to the unfortunate death of 49 individuals and the displacement of thousands of families.